Carlos Calls F1 Shots
Posted on June 26, 2024
Just Like His Dad!
SPANISH ACE CARLOS SAINZ Jr is the most popular F1 driver on the grid these days, as the rundown for available 2025 seats approaches its end game.
The popularity of the likeable 29-year-old Ferrari No 2, has grown exponentially since Carlos’ maiden Formula One podium finish, with a third-place for McLaren at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix.
No fewer than three teams are vying for his signature, after Alpine emerged this week as close to beating Sauber and Williams for the prized coup.
And this week, there were calls from one European commentator for Red Bull to break Sergio Perez’s new-found contract and put Carlos Sainz (left) in the car!
Carlos’ first Formula One victory was at the 2022 British Grand Prix – which just happens to be next up on the calendar. He also won the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.
Then, earlier this year, after missing the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to appendicitis, Carlos pulled off his crowning achievement next up with an extraordinary win in the 2024 Australian Grand Prix – from 12th on the grid!
Carlos Sr a True Legend
Carlos’ Dad Carlos Sainz Sr. is a double World Rally Champion (1990 and 1992), and is a veritable colossus of that sport, reckoned by millions as among the toughest motor racing series test on the planet.
Back in January Carlos Sr – at the age of 61 – extended his record as the oldest winner of the ultra tough Dakar Rally with his fourth victory in the car category. And Audi’s first.
And just a year after breaking his back!
Audi made history as the first to win with a car powered by an electric drive train – a low-emission prototype with high-voltage battery and energy converter – in one of the toughest desert rallies with the Audi RS Q e-tron (pictured above).
Carlos and his countryman Lucas Cruz secured Audi’s first victory in the Dakar Rally, with a lead of 80 minutes after around 7,900 kilometres.
The Audi Q e-tron uses an energy converter, featuring a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbo engine, to charge the car’s high-voltage battery while driving.
Carlos Jr was there to embrace his beaming father, known as ‘El Matador’ as the two-week motorsport marathon reached the finish in Yanbu, on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.
Audi is now expected to focus on their Formula One entry in 2026.
Red Bull Ring a Rare Beast
Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring is rare beast indeed of the championship. It boasts just 10 corners – the lowest number currently in F1- and the shortest lap time, even if its 4.318-kilometre length make it the fifth shortest track on the calendar.
Owned by the legendary sports drink company, the Red Bull Ring is second on the list of tracks with the biggest change in altitude – with a difference of 63.5 metres between its highest and lowest points – second only to the 102.2 metre change at Belgium’s spectacular Spa-Francorchamps.
Pirelli Goes for Soft
This weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg is the second leg of the first triple-header of the season. As usual for Austria, Pirelli has chosen the three softest compounds from the 2024 range – the C3 as Hard, the C4 as Medium and the C5 as Soft.
The Spielberg track surface is quite old and therefore is highly abrasive. But the lateral forces exerted on the tyres are decidedly lower than the average for the season, resulting in very limited wear overall.
Traction out of the slow corners and stability under braking are key contributors to being competitive at this track.
Pirelli stresses the importance of managing the tyres in such a way as to avoid overheating, especially if they run at high temperatures.
Spielberg, Lower Austria
Pirelli reckons those drivers who don’t manage to keep them cool enough could end up finding it difficult to fend off attacks from other cars, especially in the first and last sectors.
So another important factor will be the ambient temperature at a venue where the weather is often rather variable.
For the past two editions of this race, the two-stop strategy proved quickest, running the Medium and Hard tyres and last year, no driver gambled on the Softs.
Austria – a Land of Great Beauty
The gorgeous Styrian hills, in Lower Austria, have been Formula 1’s only home in the European country, with 37 races held on the circuit known since 2014 as the Red Bull Ring .
This Sunday’s race will be the 37th Austrian Grand Prix and although he has yet to turn 27, Max Verstappen is already the driver with the most wins – four – at this event, as well as victory in one Styrian Grand Prix.
Ferrari and McLaren lead the way with six wins apiece, in the Austrian Grand Prix although Mercedes can claim the same number of wins at this venue, thanks to Lewis Hamilton’s victory in the 2020 Styrian Grand Prix.
Third Sprint Format Weekend
Spielberg hosts the third Sprint format weekend of the season, which means just one free practice session on Friday followed by Sprint qualifying.
The Sprint race takes place on Saturday followed by qualifying for Sunday afternoon’s Grand Prix. This format has been used here three times, every year since 2022.
To date, there have been 14 F1 Sprint races and Max Verstappen has won nine of them!
Valtteri Bottas has won two, while Sergio Perez, George Russell and Oscar Piastri have one win each.
AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX
NB: Perth (WA) Time
Red Bull Ring | Spielberg | 28 – 30 June
F1 Practice
Friday 28th June 18:30
Sprint Shootout
Friday 28th June 22:30
Sprint
Saturday 29th June 18:00
F1 Qualifying
Saturday 29th June 22:00
Race: Sunday 30th June 21:00
EDITED by AC
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